S/South elders warn of possible break-up of Nigeria

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S/South elders warn of possible break-up of Nigeria

Written by Idowu Samuel, Abuja Tuesday, 10 January 2012

A group under the aegis of South-South Elders and Leaders rose from an emergency meeting in Abuja, on Monday, warning of a possible break-up of Nigeria in the light of sustained killing of southerners in the North by members of the Islamic sect Boko Haram.

The group, led by elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, urged the Federal Government to start considering the idea of convening a National Conference, which, it said, would offer the component units of the country an opportunity to discuss solution to the fragile unity of Nigeria.

Clark, in a press conference after the South-South elders’ meeting, said all Nigerians were equal since Nigeria was founded as equal federating units, a reason he said the South-South condemned the turn of events in which a section of Nigeria, most especially the North, felt that it owns Nigeria more than the other sections of the country.

He said the recent development in Nigeria with the menace of Boko Haram and the threat to the government of the day by some faceless cabal had necessitated the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference for Nigerians to determine whether or not they wanted Nigeria to remain as a nation or face a break-up.

He said Nigeria should avoid taking the path of Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Sudan and Angola in its journey to nationhood, stating the rest of Nigeria would no longer sit back to be made second class citizen, in their country, as he declared, “Enough is Enough”

Clark said: “The South-South leaders wish to warn that no ethnic nationality is a sole repository of violence. The people of the South-South will not tolerate any untoward action or plan against our son, whose action, though seemingly painful in the interim are geared towards repositioning this country for the ultimate good of its future.”

Against this background, Clark, who read the communiqué said “the South-South elders and leaders condemn in its entirety the recent spate of bombing of places of worship and the ultimatum to Christians and people from the South to leave the northern part of the country.

“We urge the security agencies to step up efforts to rekindle the confidence of the citizens in their ability to safeguard the life and property of all Nigerians, irrespective of tribe or region.

“The South-South elders and leaders have it on good authority plans by some prominent individuals to wreak havoc and inflict unimaginable destruction on both institution and the leadership of the country. These subterranean moves to destroy the fabric of unity of this country at a time the leadership of the country is entrusted to our son is treacherous, callous, divisive, ill conceived, against the spirit of our collective union as a country.

“The South-South elders and leaders call on those who are beating the drums of war and balkanisation of the country to desist from such acts forthwith, as the consequence could be unbearable and unimaginable and will do no section of the country any good”.

The group, however, drummed up support for the decision of government to remove the subsidy on petrol, stressing that the step by the government was meant to save the economy of Nigeria from collapse as well as reduce the high level of corruption in the oil sector.

It called on the organised labour to embrace dialogue with the government on the issues, just as it expressed regret on what it described as provocative comments from Pastor Tunde Bakare and his call for mass action to remove President Goodluck Jonathan in the fashion of the Arab Spring.

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Evangelist
written by Evangelist Osawaru Osamudiamen, January 10, 2012

I leanrt that pastor Bakare was once a muslim, let all nigerians know today that Bakare became a christian to promote Islamic cause in disguised as a christian, if he were truely a christian as he claimed, what is the offence of President Jonathan that warrant an Arab spring revote against President Jonathan led government to remove him from office, all is because Bakare and Buhari failed in their bid to win the presidency: Pastor Bakare, have you forgotten (1st Tim:2:1-3) That say, I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men: For Kings, and for all that are in Authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our saviour. Pastor Bakare have you forgotten this is your duty to this government, God will judge you, if your call against President Jonathan is right thing for you to say, God is watching you.

subsidy katakata
written by Michael ovienmhada, January 10, 2012

If the name of our country is Federal Republic of Nigeria, then this fuel subsidy matter is very simple. Any state that wants to subsidize fuel for it's people should collect their own share of the money and do subsidy. Any State that wants to be NLC free should also declare accordingly. By the way, there should be no such thing as NLC in a federation. it is an anomaly. This is the time for us to move away from principles of allocationomics to economics. This country cannot work otherwise. With full deregulation, it will now make sense for people with capital to build refineries. FGN should not build any refineries. They should leave business for businessmen

FOLLOW_UP
written by kennedy, January 10, 2012

Elder Statersman has righly voiced out what nigeria as a country needs now. The next stage after this killings going on to the christians and southerners is to state the process of dividing the nation.Enough is Enough.

pastor tunde Bakare is a mad dog
written by olufisayo, January 10, 2012

The so call pastor Tunde Bakare, i dont think he knows what is talking about he is just bastard,why cant he come out during Babagida,Abacha or obasanjo regirm and say such rubish is saying now. i think most of his fellower is not coming that why he went to contest,

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Why wait? Break the damned country now!
written by Mr. Bello, January 10, 2012

We are tired of all these threats and posturings. Go ahead, secede, break up the country. Stop the rethorics and take action!!!

...
written by bello jega, January 10, 2012

mr president is the chief and commander of the federal republic of NIGERIA. HE IS NOW THE FATHER OF ALL NIGERIAN NOT THE SON OF A ZONE OR REGION OF NIGERIA
PLS MIND YOURSELF, NIGERIA IS BIGGER THAN ANYBODY.
PLS DO NOT BRING SENTIMENTS INTO NATIONAL ISSUES

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Mr
written by Ibeji, January 10, 2012

Ethnic champions. Your illustrious brother and playwright of international repute, Prof John Pepper Clark Bekeredemo, was among other eminent Nigerian writers that are suing for non retaliation by southerners in the face of provocative acts of terrorism on southerners in the north. That is the only path that will guarantee the unity of our nation. What these men have seen while sitting down, you and your ilk have failed to see even while climbing atop a tree. Millions of Nigerians outside the South South believed in candidate Goodluck Jonathan and pitched their tents with him during the April presidential elections. Eight months on GEJ has betrayed the trust of the electorate and caused them unbearable and avoidable pains. Nigerians will not sit by and allow the criminal budgetary provisions made for the feeding, entertainment, transportation etc at the Villa in the face of the current hardships in our social space.

Enough is Enough
written by Aka Ikenga, January 10, 2012

For the first time, a leader from the south is shunning the path of hypocrisy and heating the nail on the head without fear or favour. The horrors of war will even intimidate those who think they have the upper hand in the north today when the stage is set for the greatest war theater in sub-saharan Africa. The blood of our heroes and cries of our children and women will remain indellible in our minds decades after the war but for those who survive, the foolishness and the greed of the nothern leaders who are fueling and ochestrating the war drama would have become apparent because even the crippled amongst us in the south would have risen to the call to duty in a fashion that reduces the biafran episode to "child's play". If war is the answer; let it begin now otherwise give peace a chance. Thanks Chief Clarke. I hope we all get the opportunity to unite as single south now and face the north like never before.

...
written by anony, January 10, 2012

For how long further should we pretend to be one? break up the country fast. the prayer and the goodluck is "peacefully

Ester chapter 4 ves1 and 14
written by juistic, January 10, 2012

Igbo leaders listen, When Mordecaia perceived all that was done to the Jews, he told Ester if you keep quit at this time, if you chose to be in responsive at this time, then help will come from somewhere.

LET US FACE REALITY
written by CHRISTIAN M. ONYEGBULE, January 10, 2012

I Love the posture of the South-South Elders. I wished the South-East Elders (if any) would tow the same line. As it affects the comments of Pastor Tunde Bakare, let us not make an issue out of the same. The strike taking the dimension of the Arab League only meant to avert what happened in the Arab Nations. Let us not attach any religious sentiment to it. The President and his economic advisers have failed this country by not being sensitive to the yearnings of the masses. Fuel Subsidy Removal will impoverish the poor and enlarge the RICH. Who is fooling who.

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You are all bunch of rogues
written by Thetruth, January 10, 2012

All these so-called South/south leaders are bunch of rogue, hypocrites. I am very sure that if it is not their son at the helm of affairs, they would be singing a different tune now. Has Clark forgotten what he said when Obasanjo attempted to deregulate oil sector? How short human memory is? I can now see that all these people are just selfish and wicked. So Clark and his likes can embrace the removal of subsidy that they spent most of their life time to oppose because Jonathan is in power? God will punish all of them for good. Those of you abusing Pastor Bakare are very ignorant of what you are saying and I pray that may God forgive you because of your very short memory. Where were you all when Pastor Bakare led a protest to make Jonathan assumed the office of president when Yaradua was sick and refused to hand over to Jonathan? Who led the protest that brought about the doctrine of necessity? I begin to wonder why some of you are still living among human beings. You are not fit except in the animal kingdom.

Pastor Tunde Bakare is a Boko Haram
written by Aburuyai John, January 10, 2012

Tunde Bakare is Boko Haram, a wolf in sheep skin.

TUNDE BAKARE HELPED INSTALL JONATHAN AS PRESIDENT
written by BISIKAY, PhD, London, UK, January 10, 2012

The SOUTHSOUTH Elders and Leaders and those commentators on this news story must be reminded that it was this same Pastor Tunde BAKARE that led the Save Nigeria Group (SNG) late in 2009 and early 2010 with other radicals in the SouthWest to help "LIBERATE" the "captured" Vice-President Jonathsn from the claws of the TUARI-Cabal as well as the "IJAW-Cabal" who were all against the constitutional right of Jonathan to be installed acting PRESIDENT. At that time, where were the Ijaw Leaders, Elders and Fighters! Now, Tunde Bakare is their "enemy", HYPOCRITES!!!

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...
written by kellyonly, January 10, 2012

Division of the Country is the answer to this killings and bad leadership, CAN we continue to hold meetings, Jonathan will continue to make empty promises and the killings will not stop. Likes of Jonathan and David mark are afraid to lose their position that the reason they are not saying the truth because they know that when Nigeria divides today, that will be the end of their looting and position. Let make 4 Countries out of Nigeria and that will be the beginning of solving our various problem. And this is a message to our Southerns in the North, leave there for your own good and come back home, forget about your earthly properties and businesses, when you are alive, you can have more. Jonathan and CAN meetings can't save you

s/south elders warns possible of nigeria break up
written by eze israel, January 10, 2012

supported ! we are tired of tolerating the northerners. we are not suppose to remain as one country! the northerners should go or face serious blood shed very soon. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

Stop the Enthic Cleasnsing in the North Now!!!
written by Aka Ikenga, January 10, 2012

It is indeed amazing how Nigerians prioritize issues. Our self-serving house of representatives members did not summon an emergency session when christians and southerners in the North were asked to abandon their means of livelihood, investments and adopted homes within 3 days or face death. They still did not consider it expedient to summon such a conference when the devilish sect started making good their threat and even when mourners of southern extraction were rounded-up and summarily executed in Rwandan styled blood-letting.When Mr President cried out in frustrantion that members of this satanic sect have infiltrated all arms of government and even the armed forces nobody paid attention. It is said in my place that "when the corpse of a non-relative is being carried it looks as though a bunch of wood is being carried". I wonder where the nationalist and ethin-nonchampions were when the agenda for the rapid and bloody islamization of this country was set. Do not be fooled by the rhetorics being rolled out by popularity seeking unemployed southern activists who speak only to attract the attention of "the corridors of power" and shut their mouth once they are recognized. These days, I feel like vomiting when I listen to their self-serving rationalization of ignorance in the print and electronic media. Do not forget brethren that even countries with majority christian population in the past were brought down to their knees and eventually islamized e.g Turkey, Lybia and Egypt. Not as though I am pursuing an anti-islamist goal here but we should all agree to remain secular and multi-ethnic forever or chose to break-up along religious and ethic lines into insignificant and perpertually dependent poor nations. Let us face the real issues and ignore the noise of subsidy at this time. Have you not wondered why the strike has failed woefully in the south-east. It will soon crumble in the south-west when we all suddenly realize the real motives behind the clamouring for removal of the southern and christian Jonathan. Shine your eyes now or remain blind forever.

TRUE FEDERALISM IN NIGERIA OR BREAK NIGERIA.
written by S,A. Fasogbon, January 10, 2012

The Presidential form of government being run in Nigeria should not continue on unitary form of government. We borrowed this form of government from USA,in USA true federalism is practised at every level of governance.Let
Nigeria go on true federalism. On the issue of subsidy removal President G. Jonathan is impeachable because the matter was yet to be fully attended to at the National Assembly when the president removed the fuel subsidy.What right thing do you expect again from a president bugdeting
1billion for himself and his vice.Let him be impeached.
If Nigeria will not run on true federalism the next is to break Nigeria.

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Indivisible Nigeria
written by Michael ovienmhada, January 10, 2012

When people make comments about dividing Nigeria, I find it laughable. There is power in huge numbers. The United States grew in a conscious way westward starting with the Louisiana purchase. We must work through our problems, one at a time. One of the first steps we must take toward nationhood is to eliminate the indigene/ settler dichotomy. When I moved from the state of Michigan to Texas, I got a Texas driver's license and became a Texan. I can understand why it may be difficult here, not with the big gap in education and economic achievement among our different groupings that neatly align with religion and ethnicity. We can find a way. Let us begin honestly by declaring an educational and economic emergency in the North. A marshall plan for the North will make Nigeria a better place for all of us. I am a Texan. We like everything big. I believe in an indivisble sovereign entity called Nigeria. If we break up, we will break up into 100 countries. Remember we have 36 states and people are asking for more states. There will be no end to the charade. We can make it work if we have inspiration from the center. I wish I could do a free job for this government of galvanizing Nigerians towards a common manifest destiny. Make us see what we have and how we can make things work just by thinking.

TRUE FEDERALISM OR BREAK NIGERIA
written by S,A. Fasogbon, January 10, 2012

The Presidential form of government being run in Nigeria is unitary, this is absurd. In USA from where the form of government was borrowed runs on true federalism at every level of governance. On the issue of Fuel Subdity Removal, the President was wrong and impeachable at this point.
The issue was still at National Assebly when the president removed the subsidy without natiopnal assebly assent. What other right thing from do you expect from the President that
bugdeted 1billion for himself and his vice? Away with such president.
Let true federalism run in Nigeria or break NIgeria

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...
written by Peter Okeke, January 10, 2012

There are two important issues here.(1)the economy chaos,and (2)the social malady pervading the country right now. I will take the economy first.
Going by what everybody said here, it is obvious that the majority of our population will like to see the removal of the subsidy revoked, yet the citizens continue to ask for improved infrastructure such as steady electricity, maintenance of roads, schools and hospitals and establishment of more and functioning refineries. If these are to be done;if we want to see a different and changed country then we have to remove and reject the status qua. We must learn to forfeit some benefits today for some gain and benefits to our children tomorrow. However, knowing that the removal of the subsidies may not guarantee the provision of these infrastructure with the corruption culture in Nigeria, the energy of all social groups should bear on the three tier of government to account and utilize the money derived from the subsidy removal to provide the needed infrastructure and provide or create an enabling environment for employment.
My second discuss is on insecurity as it regards to the Boko Haram menace. It is important for the federal, state and local Governments to declare war on the sect. Government will lose the trust of the people if it continue to give excuses any time the sect strikes. To say that we do not have enough police to enforce the laws is to pander to mediocrity. Government must and should double the strength of our police force, but meanwhile it must coordinate all the forces available to it right now to silence the sect or face an even bigger problem in the near future. As for the Southerners being asked to leave the North or the other way round, I say, everybody is a Nigerian and has the right of movement and abode any where of their chosen within the boundary of Nigeria. You also have the right to defend yourself and your property from any ham or danger any where within the federal republic of Nigeria. that's what made us one Nigeria. It is our right by Law and enshrined in the constitution of the republic to which we swear allegiance. I urge every southerner in the North and indeed every northerner in the south to arm yourself and defend yourself with your last breath and drop of blood.

warning to pastors
written by okoro osita, January 26, 2012

Pastor Tunde Bakari,
you have been a good preacher as long as i know, please don't leave the Bible and pursue politics. Jesus never involve in presidential ress

i was suprice when you choose to be a running-mate for Buhari. WHEN YOU FULLY KNOW THAT BUHARI IS A CHIEF TERRORIST.. HOW CAN DARKNESS WORK WITH LIGHT

you cant be there and be here, is either you drop the bible and face politics or you continue the gospel you are called for.

thanks

Osita

...
written by francis cole, March 04, 2012

In fact, Iam suprised to read some people comment about Bakare. Bakare was the man that fought the cabals when they were intimidating, victimised Jonathan. Bakare has nothing against the president. Bakare just want Jonathan to do the right things and fight corruptions. We need to see the truth and say the truth. Buhari too is a clean man and honest, beside that hes a fulani. Not all these people are bad.